ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Open Access

Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Analysis

Md. Shajadul Islam

Department of Food Microbiology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing

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Md. Bony Amin,

Corresponding Author

Md. Bony Amin

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-3513-6077

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Correspondence: Md. Bony Amin ([email protected])

Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing

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Md. Hafizur Rahman,

Md. Hafizur Rahman

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contribution: Visualization, Writing - review & editing, Methodology

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Fardana Binte Zaman,

Fardana Binte Zaman

Interdisciplinary Institute for Food Security, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Contribution: Visualization, Writing - review & editing

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Sajib Rangder,

Sajib Rangder

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Visualization, Writing - review & editing

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Faiaz Morshed Khan Jilan,

Faiaz Morshed Khan Jilan

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Wajihantun Nesa Chowdhury,

Wajihantun Nesa Chowdhury

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Sanjarah Tamim,

Sanjarah Tamim

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Nusrat Jahan Hridi,

Nusrat Jahan Hridi

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

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Md. Hasanuzzaman,

Md. Hasanuzzaman

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Writing - review & editing

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Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan,

Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan

Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Contribution: Writing - review & editing

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Md. Shajadul Islam,

Md. Shajadul Islam

Department of Food Microbiology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Methodology, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Md. Bony Amin,

Corresponding Author

Md. Bony Amin

[email protected]

orcid.org/0000-0002-3513-6077

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Correspondence: Md. Bony Amin ([email protected])

Contribution: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Md. Hafizur Rahman,

Md. Hafizur Rahman

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Contribution: Visualization, Writing - review & editing, Methodology

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Fardana Binte Zaman,

Fardana Binte Zaman

Interdisciplinary Institute for Food Security, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Contribution: Visualization, Writing - review & editing

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Sajib Rangder,

Sajib Rangder

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Visualization, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Faiaz Morshed Khan Jilan,

Faiaz Morshed Khan Jilan

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Wajihantun Nesa Chowdhury,

Wajihantun Nesa Chowdhury

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Sanjarah Tamim,

Sanjarah Tamim

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Nusrat Jahan Hridi,

Nusrat Jahan Hridi

Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Investigation, Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Md. Hasanuzzaman,

Md. Hasanuzzaman

Department of Environmental Health and Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh

Contribution: Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan,

Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan

Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Contribution: Writing - review & editing

Search for more papers by this author

First published: 30 June 2025

https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70998

Md. Shajadul Islam and Md. Bony Amin contributed equally to this study.

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ABSTRACT

Background and Aims

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified pre-existing mental health issues in Bangladesh, yet no study has specifically examined how factors related to COVID-19 vaccination influence mental health within this context. This study aimed to examine the relationship between mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and stress, and COVID-19 vaccination status and related factors among the adult Bangladeshi population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study with a convenience sampling technique was employed to gather the data. The sample size and response rate were 1085 and 93.68%. The mean age of the participants was 34.30 (SD: 12.79), and 55.3% were female. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out.

Results

The reliability of the instruments, measured by Cronbach's alpha, was: depression (0.78), anxiety (0.82), stress (0.83), and overall DASS (0.92). The average number of COVID-19 vaccine doses taken was 2.33. Each additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduces stress scores by 0.61. Additionally, pre-vaccination concerns about side effects significantly increase anxiety scores by 0.63. Furthermore, experiencing pressure to get vaccinated is associated with a significant increase in depression scores by 0.78. Moreover, experiencing negative outcomes from the vaccine significantly decreases scores across all three mental health metrics: depression by −0.91, anxiety by −0.87, and stress by −1.35.

Conclusion

This study reveals the broad psychological consequences of COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh, which underscore the importance of effective communication and supportive strategies, alongside targeted psychological interventions at vaccination sites.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

The data sets are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request at [email protected].

Supporting Information

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Volume8, Issue7

July 2025

e70998

Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Analysis

ABSTRACT

Background and Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

Figures

References

Information

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Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects: Findings From a Cross-Sectional Analysis

ABSTRACT

Background and Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Conflicts of Interest

Open Research

Data Availability Statement

Supporting Information

References

Figures

References

Related

Information